Committee sides with Prop. 8 foes

SACRAMENTO - A state Senate committee has sided with opponents of Proposition 8 in the court battle over gay marriage.

The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 3-2 Tuesday to approve a resolution that says the proposition's ban on same-sex marriages was a constitutional revision. As such, it would have needed approval from the Legislature to reach last November's ballot.

The vote sends the resolution by Democratic Sen. Mark Leno of San Francisco to the full Senate. The Assembly Judiciary Committee approved an identical resolution by Democratic Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, also of San Francisco, last week.

Proposition 8 supporters say their initiative is merely a constitutional amendment that could be put on the ballot by an initiative campaign. Voters passed it last fall.

The state Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments in the case on March 5.